Pierfrancesco Donato

Training Planning & Aviation Operations Leader | 20+ Years in Complex, Regulated Environments | Operational Excellence & Transformation

Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates

About

I am a senior aviation professional with over 20 years of experience leading Training Planning and Operations in complex, highly regulated airline environments. Currently Head of Operation Planning at Etihad Aviation Training, I operate at the intersection of strategy and execution—translating business objectives into structured, compliant, and operationally feasible training and operational plans across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. My core expertise lies in Training Planning as a system: capacity and resource management, governance, process design, and the integration of training with broader operational and business priorities. I help organizations make sense of complexity by aligning constraints, regulatory requirements, and operational reality to enable informed, data-driven decision-making. I bring a pragmatic, hands-on leadership approach shaped by years of direct operational accountability. I focus on what works: clear processes, realistic plans, measurable outcomes, and sustainable improvements. I am open to interim or fixed-term leadership roles where ownership, delivery, and performance can lead to a long-term appointment.

Experience

  • Head of Operation planning at Etihad Aviation Training
    Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

  • Etihad ()
    • Manager Crew Training Planning & Recovery
      May 2021 - Jul 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    • Flight crew Training Planner
      Jul 2019 - Jul 2023 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Flight Crew Training Controller
      Dec 2015 - Jun 2019 · 3 yrs 7 mos

  • Crew Controller at Mistral Air spa Gruppo Poste Italiane
    May 2015 - Oct 2015 · 6 mos

  • Crew Control Analyst at Alitalia Compagnia Aerea Italiana SpA
    Jan 2010 - Dec 2014 · 5 yrs

  • Crew control Shift Supervisor at Air One
    2006 - 2010 · 4 yrs